My Current Twisting Routine

Twists are low-maintenance, low-manipulation, and they allow for easy care between washes. They have been my go-to protective style since I went back natural.  I prefer to keep my hair in twists because compared to a stretched style like a bun, I'm able to care for my scalp and ends without the fear of messing up a particular style. Even though I've been doing many different styles lately, I always felt the urge to twist my hair.

This will be an update of my twisting routine, and I consider it an update because of the products, technique, and maintenance methods that I have been using.

Whenever I twist my hair, I do the L.C.O method. This is the L.O.C method but instead of using liquid, oil and then cream, I use liquid, cream and oil. I personally think that this order makes more sense because oil is a sealant. For my particular hair chemistry, the L.C.O method is more effective because the cream (or leave-in conditioner) is being sealed in with the oil rather than sealed out. 

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, Natural Hair Rules goes into detail about what each method can do for your hair.

Twisting your hair is pretty self-explanatory, but even twists can cause damage to your hair if you are not careful. Detangling each section when it's dry or twisting too tight for example, may turn out to be counterproductive and set you back further than you want to be. Also, give your hair a break once in a while. Try different protective styles such as low buns, crochet braids, and even wigs. 

Twisting

I always twist my hair when it's freshly washed, or after it has been banded, which I will explain in detail on another day. My hair is usually detangled when it's banded, but I tend to pass a tangle teaser brush through each section before I start twisting. 

Sometimes, however, I cut out the middleman and start twisting immediately after I wash my hair. I've been liking this a lot better because I don't have to spend an hour banding my hair and wait overnight for it to dry. 

So going back to the L.C.O method, I spray warm water on each section to keep it moisturized because of how quickly my hair dries out. My second favorite liquid to use is Aloe Vera Juice. After that, I apply the Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Enhancing Smoothie as my leave-in. 

I've been using the product for about two years and it seems to give my hair the moisture it needs. The oil I have been loving for a few months now is the Amla Legend Rejuvenating Oil. It seals my twists wonderfully and it smells amazing. 

Sometimes I use the Mielle Organics White Peony Leave-in Conditioner or OGX's Kukui Oil, but I always tend to stick with my favorite cream and oil. 

To detangle my hair I sometimes use a wide toothed comb, but most of the time I prefer a detangling brush.

Weekly Care

Once my hair is twisted, I'm free to do whatever I want with it for as long as I choose. Nowadays I only wear my twists for a week, but I quite enjoy leaving it for about a month while washing the twists each week. 

I have a schedule of what I do to my hair each week, so on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I massage Jamaican Black Castor Oil into my scalp followed by the Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Temple Balm.

My aunt was the one who actually introduced me to this product but you'll see a more in-depth review on it very soon. 

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are reserved for the Greenhouse method (or GHE), which is basically adding moisture to your hair overnight. I simply put on a plastic shower cap and my satin bonnet and go to bed. While I sleep, my body heat creates moisture that is trapped by the shower cap, and it helps to hydrate my scalp and hair. 

I would not recommend doing this method every night because your scalp needs to breathe. 

When I have work or plan to go out, I don't wear my twists out. I prefer to wear either a beanie or my favorite headwrap. 

Headwraps are my number one way to maintain my twists and my already large collection grows by the day. I'll also show off all of my beauties in a separate post.

Thanks for reading!